Medicament container carrier

ABSTRACT

A medicament container carrier comprising a proximal section having a first diameter, a distal section having a second diameter less than the first diameter, and at least one resilient beam arranged in the proximal section and having a beam head protruding radially to form a third diameter. The at least one beam has a non-deflected position in which the third diameter is less than the first diameter and a deflected position in which the third diameter is substantially equal to the first diameter.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a carrier for a medicament container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Administering an injection is a process which presents a number of risksand challenges for users and healthcare professionals, both mental andphysical. Injection devices typically fall into two categories—manualdevices and autoinjectors. In a conventional manual device, manual forceis required to drive a medicament through a needle. This is typicallydone by some form of button/plunger that has to be continuously pressedduring the injection. There are numerous disadvantages associated withthis approach. For example, if the button/plunger is releasedprematurely, the injection will stop and may not deliver an intendeddose. Further, the force required to push the button/plunger may be toohigh (e.g., if the user is elderly or a child). And, aligning theinjection device, administering the injection and keeping the injectiondevice still during the injection may require dexterity which somepatients (e.g., elderly patients, children, arthritic patients, etc.)may not have.

Autoinjector devices aim to make self-injection easier for patients. Aconventional autoinjector may provide the force for administering theinjection by a spring, and trigger button or other mechanism may be usedto activate the injection. Autoinjectors may be single-use or reusabledevices.

Assembly of conventional injection devices can be time-consuming andcostly, because components must be in certain orientation relative toother components. For example, a conventional medicament containercarrier may require that a medicament container is in a predeterminedangular orientation relative to the carrier for assembly. Re-orientingthe container relative to the carrier may require time and expense,adding complexity and cost to the assembly process.

Thus, there remains a need for an improved medicament container carrier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedmedicament container carrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, a medicament container carrier according tothe present invention comprises a proximal section having a firstdiameter, a distal section having a second diameter less than the firstdiameter, and at least one resilient beam arranged in the proximalsection and having a beam head protruding radially to form a thirddiameter. The at least one beam has a non-deflected position in whichthe third diameter is less than the first diameter and a deflectedposition in which the third diameter is substantially equal to the firstdiameter.

In an exemplary embodiment, the beam head includes a proximal rampedsurface.

In an exemplary embodiment, the beam head includes a distal surfaceparallel to a transverse axis of the carrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one beam includes a pluralityof beams having a predetermined angular offset relative to each other.

In an exemplary embodiment, the medicament container carrier furthercomprises a medicament container. The medicament container is one of acartridge and a syringe. The medicament container includes a barrelhaving a fourth diameter substantially equal to the second diameter anda flange having a fifth diameter substantially equal to the firstdiameter. The beam head is adapted to abut the flange when the beam isin the non-deflected position.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitiveof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of an exemplary embodiment ofa medicament container carrier according to the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view of an exemplary embodiment of amedicament container carrier according to the present invention.

Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in allfigures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of an exemplary embodiment ofa medicament container carrier 1 according to the present invention. Inthe exemplary embodiment, the carrier 1 is adapted to hold a syringe 3.In other exemplary embodiments, the carrier 1 may be adapted to hold acartridge, ampoule, reservoir or other medicament container. The syringe3 comprises a barrel 2, a stopper 4 disposed in the barrel 2 and forsealing the syringe 3 distally and displacing a liquid medicament Mthrough a needle. A proximal portion of the barrel 2 may include aflange 11 which projects radially. A diameter of the flange 11 may begreater than the diameter of the barrel 2. The flange 11 may extendradially from an entire circumference or only portions of thecircumference of the proximal portion of the barrel 2.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the carrier 1 includes aproximal section 10 and a distal section 9. The proximal section 10 mayhave a diameter which is substantially equal to the diameter of theflange 11. The distal section 9 may have a diameter which issubstantially equal to the diameter of the barrel 2.

In an exemplary embodiment, a distal portion of the proximal section 10of the carrier 1 includes at least one resilient beam 5 having a beamhead 7 with a proximal ramped surface which is angled radially toward alongitudinal axis of the carrier 1 and a distal surface parallel to aproximal surface 6 of the flange 11 and a transverse axis of the carrier1. The beam 5 has a non-deflected position, in which the beam head 7protrudes radially toward the longitudinal axis of the carrier 1, thusdecreasing an effective diameter of the proximal section 10 of thecarrier 1. The beam 5 has a deflected position in which the beam head 7is displaced radially, thus enlarging the effective diameter of theproximal section 10 of the carrier 1. When the beam 5 is in thenon-deflected position, the beam head 7 reduces the effective diameterof the proximal section 10 of the carrier 1 to a diameter substantiallyequal to or less than the diameter of the flange 11 but substantiallyequal to or greater than the diameter of the barrel 2.

In an exemplary embodiment in which the carrier 1 includes a pluralityof beams 5, an angular offset between neighboring beams 5 may be apredetermined angle (e.g., about 90°) or different angles. The beams 5are aligned on the carrier 1 so that the syringe 3 is restrained withinthe syringe carrier 1 regardless of the angular position of the syringe3 and the carrier 1, because at least one of the beams 5 abut the flange11, as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the exemplary embodiment of the carrier 1 mayinclude a front stop 14 arranged near a distal end 15 of the carrier 1for abutting a distal shoulder 16 of the syringe 3 between the barrel 2and a neck 17 to limit axial movement of the syringe 3 within thecarrier 1 in a distal direction D. Supporting the syringe 3 at thedistal end instead of at the flange 11 may prevent damage to the flange11 when the stopper 4 is subjected to load for displacing the medicamentM from the barrel 2.

During assembly, the syringe 3 is inserted into the proximal section 10of the carrier 1. As the syringe 3 translates relative to the carrier 1in the distal direction, the beams 5 are in the non-deflected positionand the barrel 2 slides through the proximal section 10. When the flange11 abuts the beam head 7, a distally-directed force is applied to thesyringe 3, causing the beam 5 to move to the deflected position andallow passage of the flange 11. The proximal ramped surface of the beamhead 7 reduces the force necessary to deflect the beam 5. After theflange 11 has passed the beam head 7, the beam 5 returns to thenon-deflected position. The distal surface of the beam head 7 may act asan abutment surface to prevent translation of the syringe 3 in theproximal direction relative to the carrier 1. For example, duringdelivery of the medicament M and after-use the syringe 3 is positionedby a pressure applied to the stopper 4 forcing the syringe 3 forwardsagainst the front stop 14 in the carrier 1. The beam 5 in the carrier 1prevents a so called wet injection, i.e. medicament leaking out of theneedle during needle insertion, as the syringe 3 is advanced and theneedle inserted into the injection site by advancing the carrier 1without applying pressure to the stopper 4.

Furthermore the beam 5 in the carrier 1 ensures that any movement of thesyringe 3 during re-capping, i.e. re-attaching a needle boot and/or adevice cap, prior to injection is not perceived by the user.

As the beam 5 is compliant, the probability of damage to the flange 11during needle insertion is reduced.

While the exemplary embodiments have been described using terms such as“circumference” and “diameter” implying that the described componentsare circular or cylindrical, those of skill in the art will understandthat the components may be any appropriate size or shape and havevarying cross-sectional areas and geometries.

Those of skill in the art will understand that modifications (additionsand/or removals) of various components of the apparatuses, methodsand/or systems and embodiments described herein may be made withoutdeparting from the full scope and spirit of the present invention, whichencompass such modifications and any and all equivalents thereof.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A medicament container carrier comprising:a proximal section having a first diameter; a distal section having asecond diameter less than the first diameter; and at least one resilientbeam arranged in the proximal section of the medicament carrier, the atleast one resilient beam extending distally from the proximal section ofthe medicament carrier and the at least one resilient beam having a beamhead located at a distal end of the at least one resilient beam andprotruding radially to form a third diameter, the beam head beingarranged to abut a flange at a proximal end of a medicament container toinhibit translation of the medicament container in the proximaldirection, wherein the at least one resilient beam has a non-deflectedposition in which the third diameter is less than the first diameter andgreater than the second diameter and a deflected position in which thethird diameter is substantially equal to the first diameter.
 2. Themedicament container carrier of claim 1, wherein the beam head comprisesa proximal ramped surface.
 3. The medicament container carrier of claim1, wherein the beam head comprises a distal surface parallel to atransverse axis of the carrier.
 4. The medicament container carrier ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one resilient beam comprises a pluralityof resilient beams having a predetermined angular offset relative toeach other.
 5. The medicament container carrier of claim 4, wherein thepredetermined angular offset is 90 degrees.
 6. The medicament containercarrier of claim 1, further comprising: a medicament container.
 7. Themedicament container carrier of claim 6, wherein the medicamentcontainer is selected from a group consisting of: a cartridge, anampoule, a reservoir, and a syringe.
 8. The medicament container carrierof claim 6, wherein the medicament container comprises a barrel having afourth diameter substantially equal to the second diameter and theflange having a fifth diameter substantially equal to the firstdiameter.
 9. The medicament container carrier of claim 8, wherein thebeam head is configured to abut the flange when the resilient beam is inthe non-deflected position.
 10. The medicament container carrier ofclaim 8, further comprising a front stop arranged on the distal sectionof the medicament container carrier, the front stop configured tosupport a distal shoulder of the medicament container.
 11. Themedicament container carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least oneresilient beam is integrally formed with the proximal section.
 12. Themedicament container carrier of claim 1, wherein the proximal sectioncomprises a cylindrical wall.
 13. An autoinjector comprising: amedicament container carrier, the medicament container carriercomprising: a proximal section having a first diameter, a distal sectionhaving a second diameter less than the first diameter, and at least oneresilient beam arranged in the proximal section of a medicamentcontainer carrier, the at least one resilient beam extending distallyfrom the proximal section of the medicament carrier and the at least oneresilient beam having a beam head located at a distal end of the atleast one resilient beam and protruding radially to form a thirddiameter, the beam head being arranged to abut a flange on a proximalend of a medicament container to inhibit translation of the medicamentcontainer in the proximal direction, wherein the at least one resilientbeam has a non-deflected position in which the third diameter is lessthan the first diameter and greater than the second diameter and adeflected position in which the third diameter is substantially equal tothe first diameter; and wherein the autoinjector is configured toprovide a force for administering an injection of a medicament from amedicament container held by the medicament container carrier.
 14. Theautoinjector of claim 13, further comprising: a medicament containerremovably supported within the medicament container, the medicamentcontainer comprising: a barrel, a stopper disposed in the barrel, and aneedle at a distal end of the barrel.
 15. The autoinjector of claim 14,wherein the medicament container is selected from a group consisting ofa cartridge, an ampoule, a reservoir, and a syringe.
 16. Theautoinjector of claim 14, further comprising: a spring to provide theforce against the stopper for administering an injection, and anactivation mechanism that, upon activation, releases the spring suchthat the stopper advances through the barrel to deliver a liquidmedicament contained within the medicament container through the needle.17. The autoinjector of claim 14, wherein the medicament containercomprises a barrel having a fourth diameter substantially equal to thesecond diameter and the flange having a fifth diameter substantiallyequal to the first diameter.
 18. The autoinjector of claim 17, whereinthe beam head is configured to abut the flange when the resilient beamis in the non-deflected position.
 19. The autoinjector of claim 17,wherein the medicament container carrier further comprises a front stoparranged on the distal section of the medicament container carrier, thefront stop configured to support a distal shoulder of the medicamentcontainer.